
Participation
Study Overview
The purpose of the PAC-AI study is to learn more about the brain and cognitive changes that occur following diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. We will use neuroimaging and machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to predict which patients are at highest risk for chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment.
We are currently recruiting newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer who have not yet begun chemotherapy, breast cancer survivors who have completed chemotherapy and healthy female volunteers age 35-68 years to help us understand how chemotherapy affects thinking and memory!
The PAC-AI research study is funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (Grant Number R01CA226080) and is a collaboration with the Cancer Survivorship Research Team at Stanford University.
Contact: Please contact us to discuss how you can participate by emailing kesler.lab@austin.utexas.edu.
Participation Eligibility
- In order to participate, you must be a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer OR a breast cancer survivor OR a woman with no history of cancer.
- If you are a woman with breast cancer, you either have not yet begun your chemotherapy treatment OR you completed chemotherapy treatment at least 6 months ago
- If you are a woman with no history of cancer, you must be in good health with no major medical or psychiatric conditions.
- You must be 35-68 years of age.
- You must be able to read and speak English.
- You must have a computer with internet access.
- You must be free from MRI contraindications such as metallic implants (e.g. pacemaker, certain orthopedic pins/plates), metallic tattoos or claustrophobia.
- You must be free from any major sensory deficits (e.g. blindness, deafness).
- You must be willing to travel to UT Austin for two study visits.
Study Procedures
If you are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, you will be asked to complete 2 study visits: prior to beginning treatment and again one year after completing chemotherapy (approximately 1 year after the first visit).
If you are a breast cancer survivor who has completed chemotherapy OR a woman without cancer, you will be asked to complete 2 study visits: at enrollment for the study and again approximately 1 year later.
At each study visit, we will ask you to complete the following procedures:
- MRI Scan: We will obtain a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan of your brain. MRI uses magnetic fields to take pictures of your brain’s structure and function. There are no injections, radiation, or harmful effects involved. The scan will take about 40 minutes.
- Cognitive Testing: Computerized tests that measure thinking, memory and attention skills. These tests will take about 15 minutes.
- Questionnaires: Questionnaires that ask you to rate your sleep, mood, distress and energy levels and one that asks you regarding your medical history. This will take about 1 hour.
You will receive a $75 e-gift card at the end of each visit and a parking pass will be emailed to you prior to each MRI visit.
FAQs
Director
Contact Information
Email: kesler.lab@austin.utexas.edu
Phone: 512-232-4762